Verbs

Verbs name an action or describe a state of being. Every sentence must have a verb. There

are three basic types of verbs: action verbs, linking verbs, and helping verbs.

Action Verbs

Action verbs tell what the subject does. The action can be visible (jump, kiss, laugh) or mental (think, learn, study).

   The cat broke Louise’s china.

   Louise considered buying a new china cabinet.

   An action verb can be transitive or intransitive. Transitive verbs need a direct object.

   The boss dropped the ball.

   The workers picked it up.

Intransitive verbs do not need a direct object.

   Who called?

   The temperature fell over night.

Quick Tip

To determine if a verb is transitive, ask yourself “Who?” or “What?” after the verb.

If you can find an answer in the sentence, the verb is transitive.

Linking Verbs

Linking verbs join the subject and the predicate. They do not show action. Instead, they help

the words at the end of the sentence name or describe the subject. As you read earlier in this

chapter, the most common linking verbs include: be, feel, grow, seem, smell, remain, appear,

sound, stay, look, taste, turn, become. Look for forms of to be, such as am, are, is, was, were,

am being, can be, have been, and so on.

   The manager was happy about the job change.

He is a good worker.

Many linking verbs can also be used as action verbs.

Linking: The kids looked sad.

Action: I looked for the dog in the pouring rain.

Quick Tip

To determine whether a verb is being used as a linking verb or an action verb,

substitute am, are, or is for the verb. If it makes sense, the original verb is a 

linking verb.